By: Hanna Humphreys
What is Bernie Sanders after? It almost certainly cannot be the presidency.
In the weeks since the Vermont Senator announced his candidacy, Sanders has taken over the Internet, sparking headlines such as CNN’s “Bernie Fest.” Posts regarding the (hesitant) Democrat are among the most popular on Reddit, and allegations about a sexually bizarre essay he wrote over 40 years ago made the front page. Although he has only 15% of the Democratic vote (as opposed to Hillary Clinton’s 57%), Bernie Sanders has gone viral.
Sanders is calling for a ‘political revolution,’ encouraging ideas that current politics is as corrupt as the big businesses that back them. Yet, if history is any indication, someone running for presidential office would not take such a risk. While Socialist Sanders is emphatic about his far-left ideals, he is ruining his chances at being awarded office if there were any to begin with. Clues such as his ABC interview where he implies the US should behave more like Scandinavia indicate that he really doesn’t care. He is not looking to be president of the United States. He is looking to change public policy.
I would not vote for Bernie Sanders. Chances are, you are not going to vote for Bernie Sanders. While the ideas of free nationwide college tuition and peace in the Middle East are desirable, they are certainly not as practical in the immediate future as Sanders’ ‘revolution’ seems to imply. If they were possible, Sanders would be much further ahead in the polls and Vermont would be doing much better economically and demographically. However, in all this viral sensation, Sanders has gotten his message out to the public, and that was his intention. As this happens, we are beginning to see the rise in democratic socialist ideals in the media, which will almost certainly trickle into public policy in some form. If nothing else, some of Sanders’ ideas will be the focus of democratic debates until primary season is over, calling attention to the issues far left-wingers find most imperative.
To the discontent of many more extreme liberals, Elizabeth Warren claims she is not planning an entrance into the 2016 election. But Bernie Sanders is, and thanks to him, more extreme Democrats should be satisfied that the party ideals have a chance at shifting to the left just a little further than the more moderate Hillary Clinton’s.